- The oceanographic buoys carry multiparameter sensors that continuously measure the physicochemical quality of the water, the currents and other environmental parameters in the works area.
- The system transmits data in real time through early warnings that automatically trigger protocols and corrective measures in the event of possible impacts.
Oropesa del Mar (Castellón). Versemar, an environmental consultancy specialising in the marine environment, is implementing the Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP) for the project to regenerate more than 11 kilometres of the Valencian coastline, promoted by the Directorate-General for the Coast and the Sea through the Valencia Coastal Demarcation and currently being carried out by the joint venture Dredging International España and Rover Maritime.
With an investment of close to 43 million euros, the project is the largest ever made in coastal regeneration work in Spain. The intervention, which began only a few weeks ago, is expected to run for around five months, an ambitious timeframe given that regenerating a single beach usually takes a year, whereas this project will restore three at the same time.
The project includes regeneration work through the massive supply of sediment, and environmental improvement measures, on the beaches of Canet d’en Berenguer, Almardà, Corinto, Malvarrosa (Sagunto and Canet d’en Berenguer), El Perelló, Pouet, Les Palmeres (Sueca), Marenyet and l’Estany (Cullera). It aims to recover the coastal profiles and reinforce the stability of the areas involved.
The regeneration is based on extracting sand from an underwater deposit off the coasts of Sueca and Cullera using the suction dredger Bonny River, one of the most advanced in the world and capable of operating at depths of over 80 metres. The dredged material will be transferred to the beaches through a combined system of floating, submerged and land-based pipelines.
According to the technical studies approved in the project, the total volume of sand to be dredged is estimated at more than 3.24 million cubic metres, a figure that matches the calculated needs for restoring the different stretches of coast affected by sediment regression.
The Environmental Monitoring Plan gets under way
The Castellón-based consultancy has designed an EMP that will ensure compliance with current environmental legislation and with the conditions set out in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Its purpose is to control and minimise the environmental impacts arising from the works, particularly those related to physical alteration of the environment, sediment mobilisation, turbidity and water quality, as well as to protect the sensitive habitats, communities and species of interest present in the areas involved.
To guarantee thorough environmental monitoring, Versemar has deployed a continuous monitoring system based on oceanographic buoys fitted with multiparameter sensors able to measure every parameter related to the physicochemical quality of the water, the currents and other data.
This system allows environmental data to be acquired continuously and transmitted remotely in real time through early warning systems that automatically trigger protocols and corrective measures.
Buoy-based monitoring is a differentiating tool: it provides continuous, precise control of environmental conditions and positions this approach as a benchmark in environmental monitoring.
The EMP also includes further complementary work such as topo-bathymetric surveys, water and sediment sampling campaigns, bionomic mapping, monitoring of seagrass meadows and terrestrial communities, and archaeological supervision, among others. Once the works are complete, periodic checks and medium-term monitoring will be carried out to assess the recovery of the coastal ecosystems and the effectiveness of the environmental measures applied.
“This project is a technical and environmental challenge of the highest order. Our role is to ensure that an operation of this scale is carried out with the maximum environmental guarantees, combining continuous monitoring, technical analysis and the ability to respond immediately to any deviation”, says the head of Versemar, Alejo Muruaga.
This integrated approach positions the project not only as a major technical intervention, but as a benchmark in coastal environmental management, combining coastal engineering and protection of the marine environment with advanced monitoring systems.
Image gallery
Click any image to enlarge it, or download it separately in high resolution.
About Tineverse
Tineverse is a technology-based company belonging to Grupo FUCSA. It was created to host and strengthen highly specialised business units, with Versemar as its flagship brand in the marine consultancy and technology sector. It is headquartered at the Bellver Blue Tech Zone innovation centre.
About Versemar
Versemar is the leading brand within Tineverse, spearheading the transition from traditional marine consultancy to a cutting-edge model. Built on a team with more than 20 years of experience, it offers environmental assessment, sustainable management and underwater inspection services, drawing on digital twins and data intelligence to enable more efficient and sustainable decision-making.